Kyiza Sandiford, 24, from Merton, has been found guilty of the murder of 22-year-old Keelen Wong following a trial at the Old Bailey. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, 17 October, after detectives meticulously reviewed hours of CCTV footage and forensically linked Sandiford to a blood trail at the crime scene.
Detective Inspector Kevin Martin of the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command expressed his condolences: “Today our thoughts are with Keelen’s family and friends as his attacker was held to account for his murder. While nothing can truly assuage the pain of their loss, I hope today’s conviction allows them to hold on to his memory knowing his killer has been brought to justice.”
He continued, “This awful attack took place in broad daylight, in front of people simply going about their business. An innocent young man lost his life to a large knife, and this deeply shocked the community at the time.”
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 3 October 2023, at approximately 16:44hrs when police were called to reports of a stabbing on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton. Officers and the London Ambulance Service responded, but despite their efforts, Keelen Wong succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation led police to carry out extensive CCTV reviews, eventually identifying Sandiford as the suspect. Detectives discovered that Sandiford had injured himself with his own blade, leaving a blood trail at the scene. After Sandiford admitted himself to a hospital with injuries, police linked his blood to the crime scene. Sandiford initially claimed his injuries were from punching a window, but forensic evidence confirmed that his blood matched the trail and a recovered sheath found at the scene.
Sandiford was arrested the day after the murder, on Wednesday, 4 October 2023, and subsequently charged.
In addition to Sandiford, two teenage defendants were tried. Both were found not guilty of murder, but one, aged 16, was convicted of possession of an offensive weapon.
Sentencing for both Sandiford and the teenager is scheduled to take place at the Old Bailey on Friday, 22 November.
